The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has an existing management model that has been inherited from the outgoing administration of Ibrahim Gusau and Mohammed Sanusi. This model includes a structure through which the federation operates, with department leaders and professional staff remaining in place across Finance, Competitions, Technical matters, Legal Services, Media, Protocol, and other areas. The institution is already running, and the test is the management style and effectiveness of the leader who takes charge. A newly elected president would not walk into an empty office.
The president works through professionals, receives briefings, asks questions, sets direction, delegates responsibility, monitors performance, and holds people accountable. Like any executive entering an established organization, he must learn the institution. That does not mean learning how to lead, but rather learning the organization he has been entrusted to lead. Management can sound complicated when expressed in technical language, but the principle is straightforward: know who is responsible, know what they are expected to deliver, know when it is due, give them the tools to succeed, and intervene when the system begins to slip.
Management is not easy and requires education, discipline, judgment, emotional control, and the ability to manage pressure. But when the right people are already in place, leadership becomes clearer: lead by example, respect professional boundaries, treat employees properly, and hold everyone, including leadership, accountable. Accountability must begin before the auditors arrive. Every department must know what it owns and account for what it has been assigned.
Money entering the NFF should have a documented source and purpose, while money leaving should have an approved budget line, authorization, and supporting records. History explains why such measures are necessary. In 2009, $236,000 earmarked for Super Eagles World Cup qualifying activities was reported missing from the federation's secretariat safe.
In 2010, several individuals, including Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Amanze Uchegbu, Taiwo Ogunjobi, and Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, were arraigned over allegations involving more than N1.5 billion in NFF expenditure connected with the 2010 World Cup. They were later discharged and acquitted. Such incidents highlight the need for accountability and transparency in the management of the NFF.
A former Nigerian player seeking to lead the NFF must understand the importance of accountability and be willing to implement measures to ensure transparency in the federation's operations. This includes having a clear understanding of the institution, its management model, and the roles of various departments.
Ultimately, the success of the NFF under a new leadership depends on the ability to lead by example, respect professional boundaries, and hold everyone accountable. With the right leadership and a commitment to accountability, former Nigerian players can successfully run the NFF.
Key points
- Accountability must begin before the auditors arrive, with every department knowing what it owns and accounting for what it has been assigned.
